Feeder for ruching machine



Dec. 6, 1960 F. L. BURGERT FEEDER FOR RUGHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 23, 1956 all? INVENTOR FEEDER/CK A. BUIFGEET H A RNEY F. L.BURGERT 2,962,991

FEEDER FOR RUCHING MACHINE Dec. 6, 1960 Filed July 25, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FPEDER-ICA A. BUPG'E/FT /7121: M ATTOR EY Dec.6, 1960 Filed July 23, 1956 F.. L. BURGERT FEEDER FOR RUCHING MACHINE 4Sheets-Sheet 3 &

I lNVENTOR WEDER/c/(LBUPGERT ATTORNEY Dec. 6, 1960 F. L. BURGERT2,962,991

.FEEDER FOR RUCHING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR ATTO N EY P2512 21 LBwassm' United States iPateflt O FEEDER FORRUCHING MACHINE Frederick L. Burgert, Valley Stream, N.Y., assignor toIdeal Pleatiug Co., New York, N.Y., a firm Filed July 23, 1956, Set.No.,599,424

2 Claims. (Cl. 112-132) The present invention relates to an improvedmaterial-pleating device, and in particular to a combinedmaterial-pleating and sewing machine for the manufacture of scalloptrims of pleated material.

Machines have been available on the market for many years which form alength of material into a trim having successive pleats fixed inrelation to each other by a line of stitching. In a typical machine ofthis type, sewing or stitching mechanisms including a needle driventhrough a stitch forming stroke are arranged to receive the length ofmaterial when delivered thereto along a prescribed stitch line. Alongthe stitch line in advance of the needle there are disposed pleatingmechanisms which are arranged to deliver the material in pleated form tothe needle whereby operationof the sewing mechanisms is effective to fixthe material in its pleated condition. Various types of pleatingconfigurations may be obtained with this machine by altering the driveto the pleating mechanisms.

It is broadly an object of the present invention to provide an improvedcombined material feeding and stitching machine of the aforesaidcharacter. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the presentinvention to provide a feeder attachment for said machine which deliversmaterial to the pleating mechanisms along various translated positionswhereby the stitched together pleats are scalloped to provide a new andornamental type of trim.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features ofthe present invention, there is provided, in combination, sewingmechanisms which include a needle and means for reciprocating the needlethrough successive stitch-forming strokes. Pleating mechanisms aredisposed in advance of the sewing machine, and in a typical embodimentinclude a pair of blades which are operated in timed relation to eachother to form a prescribed pleated configuration which is advanced tothe sewing machine for securement by one or more lines of stitching. Amaterial feeder is disposed in advance of the pleating mechanism andincludes a laterally shiftable carriage and means for shifting thecarriage in timed relation to operation of the pleating mechanisms. Byappropriate shifting of the carriage, a wide variety of ornamental trimsmay be fabricated.

In accordance with further aspects of the present invention there isprovided, as a new article of manufacture, a scalloped trim of pleatedmaterial including successive pleats fixed in relation to each other bya line of stitching. The pleats may be in the form of box pleats orfluted pleats arranged at uniformly spaced intervals along the length ofthe trim or in groupings along the length of the trim.

. The above brief description, as well as further objects,

features and advantages of the present invention will bebest-appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of apresently preferred embodiment, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing acombined pleating and stitching machine embodying features of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2'is a rear elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, withparts broken away and sectioned, taken along the directional arrow ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line4--4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing thecarrier and blade of the pleating mechanisms in its retracted position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but taken from the other side of thepleating mechanism showing the carrier in its forward position and thebottom pleating blade in its position for forming the top of a flutedpleat;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the top pleating blade in itsforward position for forming the bottom of a flute pleat;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a piece of scalloped trim having flutepleats formed with the machine of the present invention; and,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a piece of scalloped trim having boxpleats formed with the machine of the present invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown a combinedpleating and stitching machine in accordance with the present inventionwhich has been generally designated by the reference numeral 10 andincludes sewing mechanisms 12, pleating mechanisms 14 in advance of thesewing mechanisms for delivering material M in pleated condition to thesewing mechanisms, and a material feeder 16 in advance of the pleatingmechanism 14 for shifting the supply of material M from side to side intimed relation to operation of the machine.

The sewing mechanism 12 includes a body 20 having a head 22. Extendinglengthwise of the body 20 is a main drive shaft 24 which is driven fromthe machine motor (not shown) by appropriate belting and pulleycouplings. The main drive shaft 24 is coupled to the needle thrust bar26 which is mounted for vertical reciprocation within the head 22, theneedle thrust bar 26 carrying a pair of side by side needles 28, 30.Mounted on the needle thrust bar between the needles 28, 30 is areciprocating knife 32 for severing the material along a line L midwaybetween the stitching line S S formed by their respective needles 28,30. The material passes over a base plate 34 and is urged thereagainstby a presser foot or shoe 36 which is carried on a presser foot bar 38.The needles 28, 30 are operative through respective needle holesprovided in the base 34 and cooperate with bobbin mechanisms 40, 42 forforming successive stitches, as is well understood in the art.Intermediate the bobbin mechanisms 40, 42 there is provided a guideway44 to provide a clearance for the reciprocating knife which is operativethrough an appropriate slot in the feed bed 34. The structure of thesewing mechanisms 12 is conventional and accordingly will not bedescribed in any further detail. It should be appreciated that alatitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in thestructure of the sewing mechanisms 12 and that the showing in thedrawings is purely illustrative.

The pleating mechanisms 14 includes a pair of pleating blades 46, 48arranged one above the other. The blades 46, 48, which are reciprocatedrelative to each other in aprescribed sequence as will hereinafter bedescribed, are

mounted on a carrier 50 which is shiftable fore and aft in relation tothe needles 28, 30 of the stitching mechretracted position in Figs. 3and 4 and in their forward position in Figs. and 6. The blades 46, 48are mounted I on a link 52 which is centrally pivoted on a rocker shaft54. A spring suspension including individual coil springs 56, 58 and acounter balance spring 60 is associated with the blades 46, 48 formaintaining said blades in a prescribed position relation to each otheruntil actuated by the rocker shaft 54.

The entire carrier 50 and its associated mechanisms are shifted betweenthe fore and aft positions by the provision of a carrier-shifting arm 62which is fixed in a sleeve 64 on one end of the rocker shaft 54. The arm62 is rocked through a prescribed are, as shown in the directionalarrows in Fig. 3, by its connection via an appropriate drive train tothe main drive shaft 24. This drive train includes an eccentric dog 200rigidly mounted on the shaft 24 and a follower yoke 202 which clampsabout eccentric dog 200 and is made to oscillate up and down by theeccentric motion thereof as the latter rotates with shaft 24. Dependingfrom the vertically oscillating follower yoke 202 is a drive link 204which is connected to a first end of a rocker arm 206 for transmittingthe vertical oscillation of follower yoke 202 thereto. The rocker arm206 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a hanger 208 whichis suspended in any appropriate manner from the case 20, so that thevertical oscillation imparted to the first end of rocker arm 206 resultsin a rocking of the arm 206 about its pivotal mounting. The second endof rocker arm 206 is thus made to describe a vertical arcuate motion,and in doing so it carries with it a rod 210 connected thereto and anarcuate extension link 212 which is in turn connected to rod 210. Thevertical arcuate motion of this assembly imparts a vertical oscillationto a cranking link 214 which is connected to extension link 212 by meansof a connecting pin 216 which engages an arcuate slot 212a therein andis adjustable along the length of slot 212a for varying the stroke ofthe cranking link 214. The vertical oscillation of cranking link 214 iselfective to rock a crank arm 218, one end of which is connected tocranking link 214 and the other end of which is mounted on one end of anauxiliary shaft 220. The latter shaft is journaled on a bracket 222afiixed to the case 20, and performs a rotary oscillation in response tothe vertical oscillation of the crank arm 218, which is rigidly securedthereto. The arm 62 is rigidly secured to the other end of auxiliaryshaft 220 and depends therefrom to rock through its prescribed arc inresponse to the rotary oscillation thereof, the size of the are beingadjustable by varying the position of connecting pin 216 along thelength of arcuate slot 212a.

The rocker shaft 54 is rocked through a prescribed are when carrier 50is in its forward position by the provision of a collar 68 which iskeyed to the shaft 5'4 and is pivotally connected via a link 70 to a camfollower arm 72. The arm 72 is pivoted on a pin 74 carried by anauxiliary bracket 76. The rearmost end of the cam follower arm 72carries a follower pin or roller 78 which rides within the slot 80 of adisc cam 82 constructed to impart the prescribed sequence of motion tothe blade 46, 48 to obtain the desired pleating. The development of thecam 82 will determine the type of pleating and the spacing betweensuccessive pleats or groups of pleats. In that this detail of thepresent structure is known, further description will be dispensed with.The cam 82 is supported on a shaft 84 which is coupled to a driving gear86 which meshes with a pinion 88 operatively connected to the gear 65.Accordingly, a continuous driving gear train is provided between thedrive shaft 24 and the shaft 84 via the gears 66, 65, 88, 86. Provisionis made for removabiy mounting the cam 82 on its driving shaft 84 whichis seen in the illustrative embodiment to include a threaded lock nut 90which fixes the cam 82 onto the shaft 84. The details of the pleatingmechanism, per se, forms no part of the present invention andaccordingly further description will be dispensed with.

For the present purposes it is sufiicient to point out that thedevelopment of the cam 82 may be selected to provide fluted pleat asillustrated in Fig. 7 or box pleats as illustrated in Fig. 8, either inthe uniform spaced arrays illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 or in variousgroupings in accordance with the cam development.

In accordance with the present invention the material feeder 16 isarranged in advance of the pleating mechanism 14 and includes alaterally-shiftable carriage mounted for side to side displacementbetween prescribed limit positions, for example as illustrated by thefull and unbroken lines in Fig. l. The carriage 100 includes opposed endplates 102, 104 between which are mounted a series of guide bars 106over and under which the material M is threaded, as seen best in Fig. 3.On the foremost one of the guide bars 106 there is mounted a pair ofadjustable stop collars 108, 110 which are spaced apart in accordancewith the width of the material to prevent shifting of the materialrelative to the movable carriage 100.

The carriage 100 is mounted for side to side shifting on a dependingrunner channel 112 which is fixed to the under side of the carriage andwhich rides on a complementary track 114- The track 114 carries aforwardly directed spring plate 116 which cooperates with the blades 46,48 to direct the fabric toward the stitching mechanisms. The track 114is mounted by an L-shaped arm 11% which is fixed at one side thereof andis anchored at the lower end of the front side of the machine, as seenbest in Fig. 3. The carriage 100 shifts from side to side in aprescribed sequence by its coupling to the main drive shaft 24 of thesewing mechanisms. As seen best in Figs. 1 and 2 along the rear side ofthe sewing machine there is mounted a U-shaped bracket 120 havingupstanding legs 122, 124. Extending lengthwise of the bracket 120 are apair of coupling rods 126, 128 which are slidably mounted on theupstanding legs 122, 124 of the bracket 120. At the left end of the rods(when viewed in Fig. 2) there is mounted a cross head or follower 132which bears against and is slidably urged by an eccentric pin 134carried on a disc 136. The disc 136 is coupled by a shaft 138 to a bevelgear 140 which is driven by a pinion 142 carried on the shaft 84. Thegearing 140 and 142 via the shaft 138 imparts drive to the disc 136 andits eccentrically mounted pin 134. The follower 132 is spring biasedinto contact with the pin 134 through provision of a pair of springs144, 146 which are anchored on the upstanding leg 124 of the bracket 120and are connected respectively to the coupling rods 126, 128. A strap148 extends lengthwise of the machine and has one end coupled to the rod128 and has the other end coupled to the runner channel 112. Thus, inresponse to transverse displacement of the coupling rods 126, 128 inaccordance with the stroke of the eccentrically mounted pin 134, thecarriage 100 is shifted from side to side.

The degree of the sidewise stroke or travel of the carriage may bevaried by varying the position of the eccentric pin 134 relative to itssupporting disc 136. To this end, the disc 136 is provided with aradially-extending slot 136a and a lock nut 152 is engaged on a threadextension 13411 of the eccentric pin 134 to fix the eccentric pin 134 inany prescribed position of adjustment in the slot 136a. The period forsidewise displacement of the carriage may be altered by changing thegearing ratio between the gears 140, 142.

In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the presentinvention, a typical sequence of operation will be briefly described:

The material M is passed between the adjustable stop collars 108, 110which are fixed at a distance corresponding to the Width of thematerial. Thereupon, the material is threaded under and over the guidebars 106 of the carriage and advanced between the alternately operableblades 46', -48 of the pleating mechanisms '14. The

material then passed beneath the presser foot 36 and over thefour-motion feed dog of the sewing machine, illustrated diagrammaticallyin Figs. 5 and 6. When the machine is placed in operation, the carrierand the pleating blade 46, 48 are operated in the prescribed sequencefor attaining the desired pleated configuration. For example in Figs. 5and 6 there is shown the sequence for forming fluted pleating of thetype illustrated in Fig. 7. For this type of pleating, the lower blade48 is first operative to fold the material upwardly as shown in Fig. 5,whereupon the lower blades retract and the upper blade is etfective toform the lower fold as shown in Fig. 6. As the pleats are formed, theneedles 2'8, 30 form parallel lines of stitching S S while the knife 32severs the trim T along the line midway between the stitch line S S asillustrated in Fig. 1.

During the operation of the pleating and stitching mechanisms asdescribed, the supply of material M is laterally displaced in accordancewith the motion imparted to the carriage 100. For a more pronouncedscalloped eifect than illustrated in Fig. 1, a larger sidewisedisplacement should be imparted to the carriage. For this purpose, anappropriate adjustment may be made in the stroke imparted to thecoupling rods 126, 128 by the eccentric 136. Conversely, if thescalloping is to be less pronounced, a shorter stroke is imparted to thecoupling rods 126, 128. Still further, if it is desired to providescalloping which is other than symmetrical about its longtiudinal centerline, the eccentric arrangement may be replaced by a disc cam having anappropriate development to attain the desired scalloping pattern.

In Fig. 7, there is shown a fluted trim T prepared in accordance withthe present invention by a single-needle machine in which the cuttingknife is removed. The pleated trim T includes a number of scallops 160and is made up of successive flute pleats 162 joined together and fixedin relation to each other by a line of stitching 164.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a trim T which has scallops .170 and iscomposed of a number of box pleats 172 joined together by a line ofstitching 174. This form of decorative trim is fabricated on the presentmachine by the simple expedient of replacing the cam 82 with a differentcam having a development appropriate for reciprocating the blades of thepleating mechanisms 14 in the proper sequence to obtain box pleats.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that a wide variety ofpleating configurations may be obtained in accordance with the presentinvention and that many different types of decorative trims may beobtained each of which is quite different from those obtainable with themachine presently available on the market.

A latitude of modification and substitution is intended in the foregoingdisclosure, and in certain instances some features of the invention willbe used without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, itis appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in amanner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, sewing mechanisms including a needle and a drive forreciprocating said needle through stitch-forming strokes, pleatingmechanisms in advance of said sewing mechanisms including a pair ofblades and means for operating said blades in timed relation to eachother and to said sewing mechanisms for delivering material in pleatedcondition to said sewing mechanisms, and a material feeder in advance ofsaid pleating mechanisms including a laterally-shiftable carriage andmeans for shifting said carriage between selectively variable limits intimed relation to operation of said pleating mechanisms, saidcarriage-shifting means including a disc operatively connected to berotated by said drive and having a radial slot, an eccentric pin adaptedto be mounted at various positions along said radial slot, couplingmeans operatively connected to shift said carriage, and meansresiliently biasing said coupling means against said eccentric pin.

2. In combination with a sewing machine including a main drive shaft anda pair of needles driven by said main drive shaft, a cutter disposedbetween said needles and driven by said main drive shaft through amaterialsevering stroke, pleating mechanisms arranged along a feed pathdirected toward said pair of needles including a carrier, means mountingsaid carrier for shifting movement longitudinally of said feed pathtoward and away from said pair of needles, means coupled to said driveshaft and to said carrier for shifting said carrier longitudinallytoward and away from said pair of needles in timed relation to operationof said sewing machine, blades on said carrier movable in relation toeach other for pleating material, means coupled to said drive shaft andto said carrier for moving said blades relative to each other when saidcarrier is in its position toward said needle, and a material feeder inadvance of said pleating mechanisms including a carriage, means mountingsaid carriage for transverse shifting between selectively variablelimits in relation to said feed path, and means coupled to said driveshaft and to said carriage for shifting said carriage in a prescribedsequence whereby to produce a pair of pleated trims each having asinuous edge severed from each other along straight edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS660,617 Bissinger Oct. 30, 1900 1,940,501 McCann Dec. 19, 1933 1,998,083Grob et a1. Apr. 16, 1935 2,113,948 Seaman Apr. 12, 1938 2,277,720Seaman Mar. 31, 1942 2,476,602 Harpham July 19, 1949' 2,631,294 SeamanMar. 17, 1953 2,665,650 Lepow Jan. 12, 1954 2,669,203 Hiltbrunner et a1.Feb. 16, 1954 2,682,843 Seaman July 6, 1954 2,730,724 Gordon June 17,1956

